The year was somewhere around 150 AD. In the city of Smyrna, (modern day) Turkey, there was a thriving Christian congregation. Its leader (bishop) was an elderly man by the name Polycarp. He was a senior leader who was known throughout several parts of the ancient Church. Today we regard him as one of the Apostolic Fathers. He had been instructed in the Christian faith by, no one other than the Apostle John.

When a wave of persecution arose in Smyrna, Polycarp was arrested and taken to the Roman Circus. "Curse Christ and I will release you," said the Roman authority. Polycarp’s response was "Eighty-six years I have served Him. He had never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King who has saved me?"

It is happening today

Speaking about the impact of persecution on Christianity Tertullian, another ancient world Christian leader, said:

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Like Polycarp, countless Christians have paid the ultimate price for their faith over the centuries. Opposition to Christianity, often including violence, is not a new phenomenon and it has not slowed down with the passing of time. In fact, many say persecution against Christians is on the rise. The Open Doors’ World Watch List recently reported in 2018:

4,167 Christians were killed for their faith (documented cases).
2,625 Christians were detained without trial, arrested, sentenced, and imprisoned.
1,266 Church buildings were attacked.
One in every nine believers worldwide face some form of persecution.

LEADERSHIP

I have been drawn to the story of Polycarp, not because of the gruesome images of a man burned at the stake in front of a cheering crowd, but because of the quiet, peaceful, and powerful leadership that the old martyr gave in the face of death. There have been several waves of Christian persecution throughout the Roman empire, and the way in which Christians faced their demise in front of the crowds was one of the factors that ended up changing people’s attitude towards the Christian faith.

HOW WOULD YOU FACE IT?

I often wonder what my attitude would be, if secret police come knocking at my door, or a mob of adherents to some other religion stormed the church where I was worshipping wielding machetes or AK-47 rifles. I am very secure in my faith, so I don’t think it would be a matter of “cursing Christ” to save my life. If something like this were to happen to you or to me, what kind of call to leadership would we give to other believers and to the world around us?

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